ESTATE ROBERT I. MONTGOMERY (10/05/87)

IN RE ESTATE OF ROBERT I. MONTGOMERY, DECEASED. APPEAL OF MARY ANN MONTGOMERY

Appeal from the Order Entered in the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Orphans' Court Division, No. 2059 of 1985.

COUNSEL

William J. Templin, Pittsburgh, for appellant.

Harry M. Montgomery, Jr., Pittsburgh, for appellee.

Rowley, Del Sole and Tamilia, JJ.

Author: Rowley

[ 367 Pa. Super. Page 33]

This is an appeal from an order of the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas, Orphans' Court Division, setting aside a deed from appellee, Emma Price, to decedent. Emma, an elderly widow, deeded her property in Butler County to her nephew, Robert I. Montgomery, who handled all of her financial matters. In the deed she reserved a life estate for herself. The same day that she signed the deed, she also executed her will and a general power of attorney to Mr. Montgomery. The nature of these legal documents was not explained to the appellee. From then until his death in 1985, decedent had complete control over appellee's fiscal and business affairs. Shortly before decedent's death, appellee learned, for the first time, that she had conveyed her home to him.

Asserting a confidential relationship and undue influence, Emma sought to have the deed set aside. First, she petitioned the Orphans' Court Division of the Allgheny County Court of Common Pleas (decedent had resided in Allegheny County) for a citation to be issued to decedent's widow to show cause why she should not appear before the Register of Wills and qualify as Executrix of decedent's estate. Decedent's widow, appellant, then filed decedent's Will with the Register of Wills and took out letters testamentary on the estate. The only property listed for distribution in the application for letters was the Butler County property that Emma had conveyed to decedent. Emma then formally filed her claim against the estate as well as a "Petition For Return Of Petitioner's Property Held In Trust By Decedent."

After a hearing on Emma's claim and Petition, the Orphans' Court filed its Opinion and Order setting aside the deed. This direct appeal followed. One issue is raised by appellant: whether the trial court erred in holding that upon a showing of a confidential relationship between grantor and grantee, the deceased grantee's estate had the burden of proving that the conveyance "was the result of a free, knowledgeable and voluntary act by" the grantor.

[ 367 Pa. Super. Page 34]

Before addressing the merits of this appeal, we are confronted with two procedural matters. First, we must determine whether the order appealed from is a final, appealable order. Second, in view of the fact that neither post-trial motions nor exceptions were filed, we must determine whether the issue raised has been properly preserved for our review. We find that this appeal is properly before us, but that appellant's failure to file exceptions to the trial court's order precludes our review on the merits.

This Court is vested with jurisdiction to hear "all appeals from final orders of the courts of common pleas . . . ." 42 Pa.C.S. § 742. A final order is one which "either ends the litigation or disposes of the entire case." Gray v. State Farm Ins. Co., 328 Pa. Super. 532, 537, 477 A.2d 868, 871 (1984) (citations omitted). Further, "[i]n determining what constitutes a final order we look to a practical rather than technical construction of the order." Marron's Woodstove and Fireplace Center, Inc. v. Alaska Co., Inc., 326 Pa. Super. 471, 474, 474 A.2d 337, 338-39 (1984).

Applying these standards to the instant case, we conclude that the order appealed from is in fact final. First, the order resolved the dispute between Emma and appellant by setting aside the deed. Next, the only asset listed in the estate is the disputed Butler County property. This asset was removed from the estate when the deed was set aside. Because there are no other assets in the estate, the practical effect of the order is to end the probate proceeding. Thus, there is nothing left to be adjudicated in the orphans' court. Finally, the Allegheny County Orphans' Court rules provide that exceptions to a decree or order shall be filed within ten days after entry and in default thereof the decree shall become final. Rules of the Orphans' Court of the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County 13 § 9 and 14 § ...

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